Kael's povThe torches along the stone walls flickered, though no wind blew. I felt the shift before I heard it, like the shadows themselves had inhaled. Then, from the far corner of the chamber, darkness peeled itself free from the wall, taking shape as a man.At least, half a man.The other half was swallowed in shifting shadows, writhing as though alive, clinging to him like a cloak. The man that emerged was pale, his skin almost luminous against the black. His hair fell in loose ink-dark strands around his face, and his eyes—gods above—his eyes were pools of abyssal black. No whites, no color. Just endless void.And yet he was beautiful. Terrifyingly beautiful. A kind of beauty that demanded silence. My heart stuttered in my chest, caught between awe and fear.“Ahh,” he drawled, lips curling to reveal long, sharp fangs. “Finally. A guest.”In one hand, he held a bright red lollipop, which he slid between his teeth with unsettling glee. The sharp tips of his fangs clinked lightly a
 Last Updated : 2025-09-22
Last Updated : 2025-09-22